Substitute House Bill No. 6409 seeks to streamline the workers' compensation claims process by amending Section 31-296 of the general statutes. The bill introduces several key requirements for employers, including the necessity to submit written agreements regarding compensation to an administrative law judge (ALJ) for approval, which is essential for these agreements to be binding. Employers are also mandated to notify both the ALJ and the injured employee before discontinuing or reducing payments due to incapacity, with established procedures for requesting hearings on such changes. Notably, the bill requires detailed notices from employers regarding any proposed changes to compensation, including the rationale and necessary medical documentation. If an employer discontinues or reduces payments without proper approval, they must compensate the employee for the total affected payments, along with interest and reasonable attorney's fees.

Additionally, the bill outlines specific notification requirements for employers and insurers when intending to stop or reduce payments for prescription medications or durable medical equipment. They must provide written notice to the affected employee and the ALJ, detailing the reason for the change and the effective date, with the employee having the right to request a hearing within 15 days of receiving the notice. However, these requirements do not apply if the discontinuation is initiated by the employee's healthcare provider. The bill also specifies that the notice must adhere to a statutory form that includes essential information about the parties involved, the nature of the injury, and relevant medical documentation. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025, and the fiscal impact is expected to be minimal for the Department of Administrative Services and municipalities, with potential costs arising from the notification process starting in fiscal year 2026.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 31-296
LAB Joint Favorable: 31-296
File No. 551: 31-296